We were fortunate to host a talk by Dennis Silk, who was a friend of the poet Siegfried Sassoon for many years from the 1950s until Sassoon's death in 1967.  A schoolmaster by profession, Dennis Silk shared Sassoon's interest in cricket and indeed became President of the MCC.  Dennis assisted with the BBC programme 'Siegfried Sassoon: a Friend', having made several recordings of the poet reading his own work.  Copies of these tapes were available with the proceeds going to charity.  This was a very interesting and well attended evening.

Six poets from West Coker boldly crossed the border into East Coker to present their poetry.  Roger Iredale, Janet Lailey, Bernard Holiday, Anna Webb, Chris Hudson and led by Stella Davis, this was a great showcase for local poetry in South Somerset.

Always popular, these open evenings are an opportunity to hear both new poetry and old favourites in a live reading event that is open for anyone to come along and take part.  No theme - just bring some poems.

 
Susanna Pinney presented this lively evening of the work of SYLVIA TOWNSEND WARNER which has been having a revival in recent years. Described as witty and original, and known primarily as a writer of novels and short stories, her poetry also attracted a lot of attention. Her first book of poetry was published in 1925 and was followed by three more collections over the years. She became a committed Communist in the 1930's and lived for many years with her partner Valentine Ackland near Maiden Newton in Dorset. She died on 1 May 1978, aged eighty-four.